2014 draft priorities

[AzPatsFan]

As of now, I'd say in no order its DL, OL, TE, and QB....Mallett a FA after next year. Will this be the year we draft a QB rd 1?

There simply aren't any, Except for a bunch of rag-arn shrimps, who will wash out of the league in couple of years.

The Pats would draft a DT but there are few that merit it. This year there appears to be a surplus of good OL, so I could see that as the first pick. We need another C too. Cole should never see a regular Defense snap.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a trade down for a couple of 2s and pick DT, OL and TE in that round.

 

[varjao]

2 second round picks for the 32th overall? Not happening

 

[Ring 6]

Andy, I think you’re looking at it backwards.

If we could sign a player right now who had the same exact skill-set as Ahern I think that would be a good thing, assuming he’s not a serial killer of course. You take the offense in the direction of your player’s strengths, you wouldn’t disregard a good player unless those skills simply wouldn’t be of use. Having Dobson wouldn’t mean an Ahern-like player still wouldn’t be of benefit to have on the field.

6 of one half dozen of the other.
You are talking about one falling in your lap, and I am talking about a plan to go out a seek one because he needs to be replaced.
Night and day.

 

[livinginthe past]

Interior linemen on both sides of the ball remain a priority.

If Dobson maintains his current trajectory then I think we are pretty well stocked at WR when you add in Amendola, Edelman plus a project in Boyce.

A 2nd TE in the mold of AHern would be very useful - the Patriots do like the 2 TE set and the versatility it offers - we often run well out of it aswell.

Only Belichick will know how Collins is progressing but a cover LBer would be a pretty high priority going forward - although maybe Hightower is progressing that area of his game recently.

I'm happy with the CB's - moving Arrington outside does negate our best slot DB but its difficult to legislate for injuries - Talib being resigned is an absolute must.

Paying him good dollar will hopefully improve the likelihood of future FA's coming here in a 1 year prove-it type deal.

We have to look at the safety situation pretty critically - Gregory has been very good this year but we have very little behind him - Tavon Wilson looks like an ST specialist at this point and nothing more. Harmon could be good but we could really do with a guy who can step in a lá Harrison Smith.

DT is an area that is difficult to fill through value FA - we should be looking to draft again hoping to avoid another Ron Brace.

We definitely should be looking at interior O-line - Mankins is a trend setter and leader for us - he won't be removed from the line-up unless he goes through something of a shocking and sudden regression - but we could do with a stud or two at G or even C.

 

[Snake Eyes]

6 of one half dozen of the other.
You are talking about one falling in your lap, and I am talking about a plan to go out a seek one because he needs to be replaced.
Night and day.

Ok, then why would a Ahern-like player be going backwards rather than forwards? Having him and Gronk on the field at the same time is still going to cause problems for a defense, throw in Dobson and the offense is even more potent.

 

[Ring 6]

I'm curious why DTs are on everyones priority list if we are potentially bringing back:

Wilfork
Kelly
Sopoaga
Chris Jones
Armstead
Vellano
Forston

It appears to be among the deepest and best units on the team when everyone is healthy.

 

[manxman2601]

I don't see BB going for a WR before 5th round. I think they hit on Dobson and maybe he is the answer, let's see how boyce develops. I do think though there will be another offer to Sanders and I like the idea.

BB likes TEs and he hit a strike on Gronk and Hernandez, the problem is that Hernandez did some hits too lol. I just think BB will not give up easily on the two TE offense.

I think the only way they go for a WRs if it's a playmaker like Brandin Cooks of Oregon State who is a bit of a Victor Cruz/Tavon Austin cross.

 

[reflexblue]

I'd rather have Talib.

not so sure about talib, hes injured an awful lot. I'd be hesitant to give this guy top dollar ( and we all know its about the money) this recuring hip problem is a problem.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Top draft priority should be getting another corner who can play press man coverage. 2 if Talib leaves.

Priority 2 should be drafting superior athletic talent at guard and center. We all know that Scarnecchia can turn scrubs into serviceable players, but RG is currently a weakness, and the Pats need to start thinking about Mankins' replacement as well, with his play declining and his cap hit rising. Makes sense to address both now - draft someone who can step in at RG, and replace Mankins on the left side eventually.

In an ideal world, drafting a RG allows Connolly to move back to center, but if not, I'd like the Pats to make a point of grabbing a good one in the draft. If the Pats can enter 2014 improved at C and RG, I think we'll see a dramatic improvement in the offense.

I would have said WR just a couple of weeks ago, but Dobson has shown enough that I don't hate the idea of entering 2014 with a WR unit consisting of Dobson, Amendola, Thompkins, and a FA (maybe Edelman, maybe Emmanuel Sanders).

TE could be a need going forward, assuming the Pats want to keep running a lot of 2TE, but I don't think it's as critical of a need as most of you seem to believe. Instead, I'd go with DT (specifically, a Wilfork-style space eater if one is available) and maybe safety, depending on how Harmon performs over the next few weeks.

To recap-

Areas of greatest need (get BPA early):
CB
C/G
DT

Some need:
TE

We'll soon know if there's a need:
OLB
S
WR

 

[resdubwhite]

The team will have to manage cap well next year if the inmate at Bristol county cap hit remains in full for next season.
They may renegotiate with Vince and Mankins to clear some of that.

I'd imagine the draft will go along the lines people are suggesting, with the elephant in the room being whether Talib is a patriot going into next season. The outcome there will surely change the teams approach to the draft.

 

[Ivan]

I'm curious why DTs are on everyones priority list if we are potentially bringing back:

Wilfork
Kelly
Sopoaga
Chris Jones
Armstead
Vellano
Forston

It appears to be among the deepest and best units on the team when everyone is healthy.

For me it is because the starters are over 30 and getting top quality DL usually means using high picks and a year or so of experience before they are ready to take over full time. I see both Sopoaga and Kelly back next season but probably nat after that, and Wilfork will require a new deal and reduced playing time as he gets older. Chris Jones is a nice start but i am not counting on Vellano, Forston, and Armstead as starter down the road. I want a dominant DL, not just a decent one, and that will probably mean at least one first rounder added to their current mix, and i would like to see them take it this year of the player is there. Ultimately however it always comes down to just that, whether the guy they really want is still there or not. I'm always open to taking a different position in the first because it doesn't make sense to me to allow a position to dictate the pick, the talent should do that. I would rather have them take the 2nd best TE or WR than the 5th or 6th best DT, and vice versa. What matters most, especially for first rounders, is that they become cornerstones of the franchise, as Wilfork, Mayo, McCourty etc... have all done.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I'm curious why DTs are on everyones priority list if we are potentially bringing back:

Wilfork
Kelly
Sopoaga
Chris Jones
Armstead
Vellano
Forston

It appears to be among the deepest and best units on the team when everyone is healthy.

Because Jones and Vellano stepping in coincide with the Pats becoming one of the worst run defenses in the league, Wilfork's a major question mark going forward, Armstead has yet to practice in the NFL, Kelly is 32 and just went on IR with a knee injury, Forston isn't good, and Sopoaga's option likely won't get picked up for the price.

The way I see it, you can reasonably assume that one of Wilfork/Kelly will come back as a healthy starter, and that Jones has proven himself as an extremely capable pass rushing specialist and rotational player. If they drop a high-ceiling DT, they'll be potentially getting a guy who can start right away and who can eventually be Wilfork's successor in the middle.

Plus, as a general principle, you can never have too many capable players on the line, and guys like Sopoaga, Armstead, and Vellano aren't the sort of player that you pass on a strong prospect because you already have them. I totally agree that there's far more pressing need on the interior of the offensive line and at cornerback, but the picture at DT isn't nearly as rosy as you're painting it.

There are a bunch of guys who could pan out there, but right now it's entirely IRed veterans, trade deadline rentals and low-round/UDFA rookies (who, granted, have impressed when pressed into duty).

 

[JackBauer]

Top draft priority should be getting another corner who can play press man coverage. 2 if Talib leaves.

What? I don't know how you can say that with:

Talib
Dennard
Arrington
Ryan

...CB should be the top priority in next year's draft.

 

[Ring 6]

Ok, then why would a Ahern-like player be going backwards rather than forwards? Having him and Gronk on the field at the same time is still going to cause problems for a defense, throw in Dobson and the offense is even more potent.

By going backwards I mean chasing after replacing players who are gone to plug into a role. This team prefers to find the best talent it can and adapt the scheme to it than to stay in a scheme searching to fill roles.

 

[Ring 6]

Because Jones and Vellano stepping in coincide with the Pats becoming one of the worst run defenses in the league, Wilfork's a major question mark going forward, Armstead has yet to practice in the NFL, Kelly is 32 and just went on IR with a knee injury, Forston isn't good, and Sopoaga's option likely won't get picked up for the price.

Or, you have 3 solid veterans and 2 rookies who are playing pretty well.

The way I see it, you can reasonably assume that one of Wilfork/Kelly will come back as a healthy starter, and that Jones has proven himself as an extremely capable pass rushing specialist and rotational player. If they drop a high-ceiling DT, they'll be potentially getting a guy who can start right away and who can eventually be Wilfork's successor in the middle.

I'm not too sure ignoring half the players you have at a position is the best way to formulate a draft strategy.

Plus, as a general principle, you can never have too many capable players on the line, and guys like Sopoaga, Armstead, and Vellano aren't the sort of player that you pass on a strong prospect because you already have them.

They also arent the kind of players that scream there is a huge need.

I totally agree that there's far more pressing need on the interior of the offensive line and at cornerback, but the picture at DT isn't nearly as rosy as you're painting it.

Well we disagree. I am just fine with 3 veterans, and 3 promising rookies.

There are a bunch of guys who could pan out there, but right now it's entirely IRed veterans, trade deadline rentals and low-round/UDFA rookies (who, granted, have impressed when pressed into duty).

The 2 vets on the IR will be back next year, the 3rd vet can be kept if one is not, and the 3 young players with upsides are a lot of depth.

 

[reflexblue]

What? I don't know how you can say that with:

Talib
Dennard
Arrington
Ryan

...CB should be the top priority in next year's draft.

it seems like its a priority ever year, and has been for to many years i vote interior d line, (wilfork and kelly are getting long in the tooth) followed by a center or guard.

 

[Kontradiction]

What? I don't know how you can say that with:

Talib
Dennard
Arrington
Ryan

...CB should be the top priority in next year's draft.

I would say it should fall like this...

1. RG/C
2. DT
3. CB (depending on what happens with Talib)

 

[Deus Irae]

Top needs*, assuming Talib returns (or a suitable FA replacement is found), not necessarily in the order given:

DT
OG/C
S


After that, I think it depends a bit more on how players develop over the course of the season, and how the team decides to run the offense moving forward. TE is a bigger need if the team wants to go back to the TE-centric system it seemed to be going to before the Prisoner earned his moniker, for example.









*Team decision about Spikes could affect this group

 

[JackBauer]

I would say it should fall like this...

1. RG/C
2. DT
3. CB (depending on what happens with Talib)

Yeah, I'm on board with this. And I think I can get the logic - i.e. keeping Arrington from playing the outside corner when someone invariably goes down. But while the starters are great, we've got a situation on the OL where two of the starters are NOT great, and are, this season at least, liabilities. Which is going to suck come playoff time.

If I'm BB, I go trenches right off the bat.

 

[BradyFTW!]

What? I don't know how you can say that with:

Talib
Dennard
Arrington
Ryan

...CB should be the top priority in next year's draft.

Sorry about that, my post wasn't totally clear at the beginning. A bit further down, I specified that I see DT, G/C, and CB as the three areas of greatest need, where BPA between the three of them would be my ideal strategy (S could become part of that group as well, depending on how Harmon plays over the next few weeks). Of all of those needs, a CB with the size, athleticism, and skill to play press man coverage is the hardest to find, so if the Pats are in a position to pick one, then that should be the call IMO.

I'd rank CB in that category because Talib's hip injury appears to be a chronic problem. Dennard is a legit starter outside, and Arrington is what he is, which is a pretty good corner in the slot. The jury's still out on Ryan. He looked awful on Sunday, and looked great for two weeks before that. Standard rookie business.

You could make the same argument for DT that you seem to be making for CB: that with Wilfork, Jones, Vellano and Kelly coming back, there's no real need there (I refuse to label Armstead promising when we've seen literally nothing from him). The only position where the Pats have a talent deficiency, at the starter level, IMO, is C/G (and maybe S, although Harmon could be the guy there). Luckily, you usually don't have to draft these guys in the first round, which is why I don't have it ranked as the clear #1 above DT and CB.

In the case of both DT and CB, the best case scenario is pretty good, but with both it's one injury--and an injury that should be more or less expected, at that--before the entire unit is thrown into disarray and guys are stuck playing out of position with responsibilities that they're not suited for.